The Volkswagen Group aims to reduce its massive portfolio to cut costs drastically. Before it starts phasing out vehicles that don't generate enough revenue, Audi is planning to launch two models it has never offered before. While the three-row Q9 is no longer a secret, some will be surprised to learn that an RS Q5 is also on the way. Audi has been selling the Q5 for nearly 20 years, yet it has never given the SUV the RS treatment.
A new spy video shot in Europe shows a fleet of camouflaged prototypes, including the RS Q5. It's not just the double oval exhaust finishers that give away the vehicle's identity. We can also clearly spot the flared wheel arches concealing meaty tires and possibly wider front and rear tracks. As if that wasn't enough, the high-voltage yellow sticker indicates we're looking at a plug-in hybrid.
View Price on AmazonGiven that the Q5 is closely related to the A5, the high-performance versions should follow the same formula. The RS Q5 is likely to borrow the plug-in hybrid V6 from the RS5, which produces 630 horsepower and 608 lb-ft of torque. Audi Sport's first plug-in hybrid comes with a chunky 25.9-kWh battery, a major reason why the RS5 Avant tips the scales at a hefty 5,225 pounds. We wouldn't be surprised if the RS Q5 ends up even heavier, given that SUVs typically weigh more than equivalent sedans or wagons.
The RS Q5 is important not just for Audi but for Porsche as well. Zuffenhausen is retiring the first-generation Macan at the end of this month and will launch a direct successor in 2028. Once again, it'll be closely related to the Q5, so it's reasonable to expect similarities between Porsche's range-topping version and the upcoming RS-badged Q5.
Source: motor1.com
